Mother Smuggles Meth with Children in Car

Release Date:

May 7, 2014

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — On Monday, a U.S. citizen with two children inside her car was arrested on Interstate 5 for smuggling methamphetamine. In addition, agents on Interstate 5 arrested a man on Saturday with methamphetamine inside his car.

The incident on Monday occurred at approximately 11 a.m. Agents became suspicious of a 33-year-old woman driving north on I-5 and initiated a stop near Basilone Road in San Clemente. A Border Patrol K-9 team was summoned and performed a sniff of the 2001 Honda Accord, resulting in a positive alert. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the lining of an ice chest near a child’s booster seat. The narcotics weighed 6.72 pounds and are worth approximately $67,200.

The incident on Saturday also occurred at approximately 11 a.m near the same location. A 47-year-old male Mexican national was stopped two miles north of the I-5 checkpoint. Agents asked and received permission to search his 1999 Mercedes –Benz CLK 430. The search revealed anomalies near the intake manifold. The vehicle was taken to the checkpoint for further investigation. At the station, a nearby K-9 alerted to the car and agents discovered 12.79 pounds of methamphetamine inside the intake manifold. The drugs are valued at $127,900.

Both subjects were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the two children were turned over to County of San Diego Child Welfare Services. The vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.